I have a friend who has been receiving threatening e-mail and the people who are writing these things have even shown up at his door and they live over 100 miles apart.
2007-02-19 15:53:20 · 17 answers · asked by non 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
and how should this be reported in a way that it will be taken seriously?
2007-02-19 15:58:53 · update #1
He says he was involved with meth over a year ago and these people are from that group. will he have to go to prison?
2007-02-19 17:03:06 · update #2
Unless your friend is willing to pursue prosecution of these threats, there is not much you can do.
If he is willing to pursue it, he should print off the threats and provide them to his local law enforcement agency and provide a statement. Every state in the US has criminalized threats of bodily harm or death. Such threats also constitute a federal crime.
Your question indicates that the suspects have traveled to his residence. Obviously, he would need to report such contact to law enforcement as it demonstrates not only threats, but also accessibility.
2007-02-19 16:28:51 · answer #1 · answered by snowdrift 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A death threat is a death threat, no matter how it was delivered. Your friend should contact his local police, because that was where the offense was enacted. He should keep the emails, print them for the police, and NOT delete them from his hard drive. He should also document any unsolicited contact he has had with these people... so if they're stalking him, or showing up, that's more fuel for the police report.
Regarding his past history with these people, he should be up front with the police about his history. Unless he is currently under the influence or in possession of something illicit, he won't be in trouble.
2007-02-19 19:28:52 · answer #2 · answered by Amy S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes there is something very illegal about it. it is assault, could be harassment, and if they have shown up at his door it could be stalking. Assault is defined as the promise to do bodily harm, battery is the actual action of doing harm. meaning the actual verbiage used in the threats, this is not speech that is protected under the first amendment it is like yelling fire in a movie theatre so threats are the promise to do harm. if he has instructed them to stop sending the emails then is also harassment. and the supreme court has upheld internet crimes as punishable with prison time. fact is that the FBI now has an internet crimes division. If the people are now showing up at his house he should also take the threats very seriously, i would think that local police would take them very serious also.
2007-02-19 16:13:16 · answer #3 · answered by big_john_719 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Death threats over any commincation device is illegal and should be reported to local authority. Also, Homeland Security may be interested in speaking with the fool who is making such threats.
2007-02-20 02:05:29 · answer #4 · answered by Tom M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call whatever law enforcement agency is responsible for that area. SAVE the emails also. They can check by printing out the entire header the address of the computer it came from.
We did these kind of investigations when I was a cop. It can result in some jail time for the offender esp. if they have a long criminal record. But you gotta report it! Don't erase those things even if you print them out!
Garfields has no idea what they are talking about... There is no freedom of speech for death threats, that is criminal conduct. I am guessing they were NEVER in law enforcement.
2007-02-19 16:20:26 · answer #5 · answered by Lt. Dan reborn 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is illegal to make death threats over the net our by any other way. If your local police department has a cyber crimes unit,
report it to them.
2007-02-19 16:12:33 · answer #6 · answered by Del C 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Though death threats may not be illegal....or hard to prove the intent ....stalking is illegal via internet or in person.
2007-02-19 16:03:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends upon whom the threat is made. Threaten the wrong/right person, and the NSA will be in your living room before you log off!!
2007-02-19 15:57:34 · answer #8 · answered by arizonapolecat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is, save the print out the Emails and give them to the agency. Make sure hard copy is in hand
2007-02-19 16:04:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Threatening to do bodily harm is illegal in every state in the country,It doesn't matter how its made,just that it is.Your friend should contact the authorities now.
2007-02-19 16:15:04 · answer #10 · answered by Zapatta McFrench 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋